Improved water-proof fabric



. "iTE STATES ATENT OFFICE. I

THOMAS A..JEN CKES, ()FPROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVED WATER-PROOF FABRIC.

l tuhom it may concern: Be it known that I, THOMAS A. JENCKES,

l of the city and county of Brovidence, and State ot Rhode Island, have invented a new Napped Water-Proof Fabric composed of india-rubber or allied gums, in combination with textile fabrics and with flocks or fibers of wool, fine silk, and other fibrous substances, and which constitutes a new manufacture; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

- The base of the new fabric is cloth or any textile fabric finished evenly and smoothly.

This is made to pass between revolving metallic rolls so gaged as to leave an opening of about the thickness of the fabric. The indie rubber or other gum is prepared in any of the ordinary modes,-by grinding, or by dissolving,

or (which I have found the best) by beiugpartially dissolved and then softened to the proper uniform consistency for working by grinding. The prepared rubber or other gum is fed between the rolls and upon the cloth or other fabric, or is otherwise spread thereon before entering the rolls in any of the known modes. The pressure of the rolls should be so great as to incorporate the rubber or other gum thoroughly with the fabric, and not merely cover it or coat it. upon one side of the fabric, and upon this is sifted or spread by hand or by machinery a coating of flocks of wool, fur, silk, or other fibrous substances or disintegrated fiber, in such manner that each fiber shallfall as nearly as possible by itself without being attached to or felted with any other fibers. This result maybe obtained in a very satisfactory mauher by the use of a machine patented to John F. Green on the 26th day of February, A- D1 1861. The fabric thus spread or covered with flock or fiber is again made to pass between the rolls at a great pressure, and the flock or fiber is pressed into the rubber and the textile fabric with which it has become combined, so that the cloth, rubber, or other gum and the flock or fiber are pressed together and form integral portions of the new compound fabric. If one operation is not sufficient, it should be repeated till the result is attained. Any snr-' plus flock or fiber that may have fallen upon the fabric and not have become incor orated with it should be brushed off, and by t e same operation of brushing a nap may be raisedo'f A surface of .gum will be leftthe flock or fiber which has become a part of the fabric, or the nap may be raised by, processes well known in the treatment of cloths. The nap may also be sheared and rendered as even as that of broadcloth. When flocksor fibers of fur are used their length and sot't-' uess have the efiect of producing a peculiarly smooth, soft, and even surface; andthe waterrepelleut properties of this article give 'it also a superior value. The fabric may be dyed, pressed, and finished like cloth.

It is obvious that rolls of a large size'and great weights,when capable of nice adjustment, are preferable to those of alight and slender make, and that these rolls must have the apparatus for adjustment as to position and speed of revolution and for being heated and cooled well known amongindia-r'u bber manufacturers.

An improved result is also attained byyub canizin g the india-rubberorother vulcanizable gum in the new fabric. In all previous manufactures of napped orflocked indie-rubber fabrics, or those'inade with similar gums, the flock or fiber has been made to adhere to the fabric which forms the base by thin solutions of gum or by a cement. made from it, and the pressure to which the combinationjhus been subjected has been merely for the purpose of causing the gum to" adhere to the surface of the cloth or other fab; ric and the flocks or fibers to adhere toytfh'e coating or surface of gum. .In these former; combinations the cloth or other fabric was'lia' ble to peel olf or separate from the gum, and

the flock or fiber would soon rub or-wear away.

Besides, the finished fabric would not be oer-z taiuly water-proof. These and other defects which have prevented the flocked fabrics from coming into general use are completely obviated by my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure, by Letters Patent, is-' v The fabric in which flocks or fibers -and indie-rubber or allied gums arecombined with cloth or other base by means of pressure so as to become integral portions of the new napped water-proof fabric, substantially as'described, the same being a. new manufacture.

THOMAS A. JENCKES.

Witnesses H. W. PRIOE, A. B. Sroueurou. 

